> I settled with the understanding that they had the upper hand Sounds like #3 is your primary concern. While some situations are beyond your control, you shou

> I settled with the understanding that they had the upper hand Sounds like #3 is your primary concern. While some situations are beyond your control, you should put some effort into understanding perception and how you can manufacture the perception that you have the upper hand, not them. The simplest example of this is Dan Kennedy's takeaway selling technique..Basically you make it seem like you are unavailable to work with them, and because people want what they can't have, they stop thinking about whether they want you but rather how to get you. This puts you in the drivers seat.